Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-15
PEARS AND PEACHES.
THEIR CULTURE IN CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Industries Which are Sure to Bring
Remunerative Returns, and Hav-
ing an Inexhaustible Market.

c. W. Reed, the extensive orchardist of
Sacramento, speaking upon the subject of
fruit-growing in California, says; There
probably is no portion of the American
continent equal to the Sacramento valley
for the successful and profitable cultivation
of the pear and peach. This immense val
ley, with the adjoining foothills, reaching
into the mountains to an elevation of at
least three thousand feet, will grow the pear
and peach to their greatest perfection,
where locations are made upon soils suit
able to these kinds of fruits. The demand
for these fruits is apparently increasing
faster than the measure of their production.
In the Sacramento valley proper there is but
one variety of pear that will Justify extensive
cultivation, viz, the Bartlett. While nearly
all varieties may be grown successfully,
and many varieties may be desirable for
home purposes, yet for profitable orchards
we have to contine ourselves to this one
variety, except in high attitudes, or locali-
ties where the fruit only natures very late.
The reason for this will be better under
stood by the inexperienced if explained.
THE BARTLETT PEAR
Having qualities that make it universal
favorite for shipping, canning and for do
nestle market, no other variety is wanted
while it is obtainable. With the difference
in the time of its ripening in different To-
cslities that are adjacent, our markets are
supplied with this variety about four
months each season, viz: July, August,
September, and October While this pear
is in the markets any other variety to COM
pete with it must sell at very low prices.
1t is not only the great demand the Bartlett
pear has over other varieties in the mark
cts, but as healthy grower and regular
bearer it has no equal. In the higher alti-
tudes, where pears will keep till the Bart
lett has disappeared, other varieties may be
quite profitable, although they can never be
grown to any similar extent. The Bartlett
pear seems to attain its greatest prolific
growth on the alluvial soils of the valleys
and near the banks of rivers and streams.
They will have better keeping qualities,
however, when grown where there is clay
subsoil, but will not ripen so early. All
pears will be later in maturing and have
better keeping qualities if grown on q clay
subsoil
The enemies to pear culture are the cod
lin moth and scale. 1t is my opinion that
we can overcome both these pests without
serious expense or loss. For scale on pear
trees | use clear refined coal oil, with a
spray pump for large trees, and brush for
small trees. If used thoroughly, it will
destroy the scale completely, and l have
never seen tree injured by its use
For Goblin moth | use Paris green, ap-
piled when the fruit is fairly set on the
trees. Two applications will do no harm
when the fruit is small, and with cloth or
paper traps tied around the trunks of the
trees, and by thorough cultivation, very
little fruit will be injured.
PEACH CULTURE,
Except in few localities, has not received
the attention that this most valuable fruit
deserves. Our soil and climate in the Sac
ramento valley is UNSURPASSED. In the
peach-groWing districts of New Jersey,
Delaware and Maryland forty and even
fifty thousand trees are grown in 8 single
plantation but the localities that have
furnished the principal supply of peaches
in the past are becoming exhausted, and
the production of peaches is lessened every
wear, and the few such favored places as
the Sacramento valley must make up the
deficiencies.
II is practicable to ship peaches i'll a
fresh condition as far rs New York city
from California, but in order 10 do this
proper varieties must be selected, ard the
grower must have thorough knowledge
of gathering, handling and shipping. A
vast market is available for reaches grown
in California, and with a proper selection
of soil and varieties peach culture may be-
come one OF the greatest Industries in this
country. We are comparatively free from
the most serious obstacles that peach
growers in the Eastern States have to con-
tend with that of cold weather, which
makes a crop very uncertain, and the
yellows, which frequently ruins whole
districts devoted to culture of this fruit
For market purposes the vellow-feshed
varieties are most desirable, as they are
usually more hardy, less liable to the curl
leaf," and will bear longer transportation
without injury than the white fleshed.
The following varieties may De named as
safe to grow in large quantities Craw-
ford's Early, Crawford's Late, Foster, Sus-
quehanna. Salway, Orange Cling and Cali
fornia Cling. For very early varieties :
Alexander, Briggs, Red May and Hale's
Early may be recommended. These latter
varieties must only be depended on. how
ever, for local markets, as they are not
suitable for long shipments, the canneries
will not buy them, and they are unfit for
drying. There are many new varieties of
seeding peaches that have an excellent
local reputation, and many of them may
come into general cultivation, but advise
the thorough testing of new vsrie-
ties in each locality before planting
them extensively as many varieties do
not succeed equally well in all soils.
As to the selection of location plant
ing, cultivation, pruning, gathering
and marketing, so many authorities have
described in detail that it is hardly worth
while to repeat what they have said. The
general principles of pear and peach cult
ure applies in California as in older coun-
tries and l will only add that the selection
of trees grown on natural stock, careful
planting, thorough cultivation and annual
pruning by shortening in, and the careful
gathering and handling of crops, is neces-
sary for successful and profitable culture.
Fortunes have been made in the growing of
these kinds of fruit in California, and others
will still be made. There is practically
no limit to the demand for first-class fruit,
and they who raise and market that which
is first-class, and do it intelligently, will be
richly rewarded.